ADVERTISEMENT.

In preparing the present volume for the press, use has been freely made of several publications which have recently appeared in England. The Biographical Notice of the author is taken from an edition of the Essays, by A. Spiers, Ph. D. To this has been added the Preface to Pickering’s edition of the Essays and Wisdom of the Ancients, by Basil Montagu, Esq. Parker’s edition, by Thomas Markby, M. A., has furnished the arrangement of the Table prefixed to the Essays, and also “the references to the most important quotations.” The Notes, including the translations of the Latin, are chiefly copied from Bohn’s edition, prepared by Joseph Devey, M. A. We have given the modern translation of the Wisdom of the Ancients contained in Bohn’s edition, in preference to that “done by Sir Arthur Gorges,” although the last mentioned has a claim upon regard, as having been made by a contemporary of Lord Bacon, and published in his lifetime. Its language is in the style of English current in the author’s age, and for this reason may resemble more nearly what the philosopher himself would have used, had he composed the work in his own tongue instead of Latin.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
Preface by B. Montagu, Esq.[xi]

Introductory Notice of the Life and Writings of Bacon, byA. Spiers, Ph. D.

[1]
ESSAYS; OR, COUNSELS CIVIL AND MORAL.
NO.
1.Of Truth1625; [57]
2.Of Death1612;enlarged 1625[62]
3.

Of Unity in Religion;

Of Religion 1612; rewritten 1625

[65]
4.Of Revenge1625; [73]
5.Of Adversity1625; [75]
6.

Of Simulation and Dissimulation

1625; [78]
7.

Of Parents and Children

1612;enlarged 1625[82]
8.

Of Marriage and Single Life

1612;slightly enlarged 1625[84]
9.

Of Envy

1625; [87]
10.

Of Love

1612;rewritten 1625[95]
11.

Of Great Place

1612;slightly enlarged 1625[98]
12.

Of Boldness

1625; [103]
13.

Of Goodness, and Goodness of Nature

1612;enlarged 1625[105]
14.

Of Nobility

1612;rewritten 1625[110]
15.

Of Seditions and Troubles

1625 [113]
16.

Of Atheism

1612;slightly enlarged 1625[124]
17.

Of Superstition

1612; ” ” 1625[130]
18.

Of Travel

1625; [132]
19.

Of Empire

1612;much enlarged 1625[135]
20.

Of Counsels

1612;enlarged 1625[143]
21.

Of Delays

1625; [151]
22.

Of Cunning

1612;rewritten 1625[153]
23.

Of Wisdom for a Man’s Self

1612;enlarged 1625[159]
24.

Of Innovations

1625; [161]
25.

Of Dispatch

1612; [163]
26.

Of Seeming Wise

1612; [166]
27.

Of Friendship

1612;rewritten 1625[168]
28.

Of Expense

1597;enlarged 1612; and again 1625[179]
29.

Of the true Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates

1612;enlarged 1625[181]
30.

Of Regimen of Health

1597;enlarged 1612; again 1625[195]
31.

Of Suspicion

1625; [197]
32.

Of Discourse

1597;slightly enlarged 1612; again 1625[199]
33.

Of Plantations

1625; [202]
34.

Of Riches

1612;much enlarged 1625[207]
35.

Of Prophecies

1625; [212]
36.

Of Ambition

1612;enlarged 1625[217]
37.

Of Masques and Triumphs

1625; [218]
38.

Of Nature in Men

1612;enlarged 1625[223]
39.

Of Custom and Education

1612; ” ”[225]
40.

Of Fortune

1612;slightly enlarged 1625[228]
41.

Of Usury

1625; [231]
42.

Of Youth and Age

1612;slightly enlarged 1625[237]
43.

Of Beauty

1612; ” ” 1625[240]
44.

Of Deformity

1612;somewhat altered 1625[241]
45.

Of Building

1625; [243]
46.

Of Gardens

1625; [249]
47.

Of Negotiating

1597;enlarged 1612; very slightly altered 1625[259]
48.

Of Followers and Friends

1597;slightly enlarged 1625[261]
49.

Of Suitors

1597;enlarged 1625[264]
50.

Of Studies

1597; ” 1625[266]
51.

Of Faction

1597;much enlarged 1625[269]
52.

Of Ceremonies and Respects

1597;enlarged 1625[271]
53.

Of Praise

1612; ” 1625[273]
54.

Of Vainglory

1612; [276]
55.

Of Honor and Reputation

1597;omitted 1612; republished 1625[279]
56.

Of Judicature

1612; [282]
57.

Of Anger

1625; [289]
58.

Of the Vicissitude of Things

1625; [292]

APPENDIX TO ESSAYS.

1.Fragment of an Essay of Fame[301]
2.Of a King[303]
3.An Essay on Death[307]

THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS; A SERIES OF
MYTHOLOGICAL FABLES.

Preface[317]
1.

Cassandra, or Divination. Explained of too free andunseasonable Advice

[323]
2.

Typhon, or a Rebel. Explained of Rebellion

[324]
3.

The Cyclops, or the Ministers of Terror. Explainedof base Court Officers

[327]
4.

Narcissus, or Self-Love

[329]
5.

The River Styx, or Leagues. Explained of Necessity,in the Oaths or Solemn Leagues of Princes

[331]
6.

Pan, or Nature. Explained of Natural Philosophy

[333]
7.

Perseus, or War. Explained of the Preparation andConduct necessary to War

[343]
8.

Endymion, or a Favorite. Explained of Court Favorites

[348]
9.

The Sister of the Giants, or Fame. Explained ofPublic Detraction

[350]
10.

Acteon and Pentheus, or a Curious Man. Explainedof Curiosity, or Prying into the Secrets of Princesand Divine Mysteries

[351]
11.

Orpheus, or Philosophy. Explained of Natural andMoral Philosophy

[353]
12.

Cœlum, or Beginnings. Explained of the Creation,or Origin of all Things

[357]
13.

Proteus, or Matter. Explained of Matter and itsChanges

[360]
14.

Memnon, or a Youth too forward. Explained of thefatal Precipitancy of Youth

[363]
15.

Tythonus, or Satiety. Explained of PredominantPassions

[364]
16.

Juno’s Suitor, or Baseness. Explained of Submissionand Abjection

[365]
17.

Cupid, or an Atom. Explained of the CorpuscularPhilosophy

[366]
18.

Diomed, or Zeal. Explained of Persecution, or Zealfor Religion

[371]
19.

Dædalus, or Mechanical Skill. Explained of Arts andArtists in Kingdoms and States

[374]
20.

Ericthonius, or Imposture. Explained of the improperUse of Force in Natural Philosophy

[378]
21.

Deucalion, or Restitution. Explained of a useful Hintin Natural Philosophy

[379]
22.

Nemesis, or the Vicissitude of Things. Explained ofthe Reverses of Fortune

[380]
23.

Achelous, or Battle. Explained of War by Invasion

[383]
24.

Dionysus, or Bacchus. Explained of the Passions

[384]
25.

Atalanta and Hippomenes, or Gain. Explained of theContest betwixt Art and Nature

[389]
26.

Prometheus, or the State of Man. Explained of anOverruling Providence, and of Human Nature

[391]
27.

Icarus and Scylla and Charybdis, or the Middle Way.Explained of Mediocrity in Natural and MoralPhilosophy

[407]
28.

Sphinx, or Science. Explained of the Sciences

[409]
29.

Proserpine, or Spirit. Explained of the Spirit includedin Natural Bodies

[413]
30.

Metis, or Counsel. Explained of Princes and theirCouncil

[419]
31.

The Sirens, or Pleasures. Explained of Men’s Passionfor Pleasures

[420]